The change impacts thousands of people in Lee County. Florida received an exemption in 2009 from federal requirements that required people receiving snap benefits to engage in work-related activities. That exemption ended on January 1.

The change impacts thousands of people in Lee County. Florida received an exemption in 2009 from federal requirements that required people receiving snap benefits to engage in work-related activities. That exemption ended on January 1.

More than 200,000 people in Florida could lose their monthly food stamp benefits.

The state said an improving economy is the reason to cut some people loose.

Although food stamps are paid with federal funds, state legislators have some control over who gets them.

A new Republican-backed bill said a family of four earning more than $31,000 a year is no longer eligible.

"Now that our economy is back on track after the recession, it is prudent to realign our welfare eligibility requirements with the federal levels. We need to help people get back on their feet, not create a system of dependency," said Rep. Dane Eagle, R-Cape Coral.

Each day, the Fort Myers City Rescue Mission serves hundreds of meals.

For Jamilla Hunt and her two sons, dining in the soup kitchen is eating out.

“We come here for lunch and dinner because I really can't survive on the little stamps they give me,” Hunt said.

In the last two years, Hunt has seen her benefits significantly reduced.

“We've been coming to this soup kitchen since they cut our stamps down,” Hunt said.

She fears any further cuts could leave her destitute.

“It will be difficult because I'm raising my boys by myself and their father isn't helping me,” Hunt said.

Her story is all too familiar to Rev. MarJoe Wooten who runs the shelter.

“We got a call this morning from a woman with two children wanting a place to stay. We don't have any place for them,” Wooten said.

The homeless shelter is for men, and most of them lost their food stamps last year when SNAP benefits were cut.

Wooten is seeing more hungry families show up at his soup kitchen.

He predicts an increase if even more lose their food stamps.

“It's going to be real difficult for some families,” Wooten noted.

“Yes, it's almost inhumane,” said Payton Roes-Kern.

The possibility leaves taxpayers who foot the bill split on whether to cut benefits any further.

“Are they spending it on the right food products?” asked Graham Edwards.

“These people are just trying to make it and how awful to cut aid to them,” said Denise Perkovich.

It's aid Hunt said she and her boys can't afford to lose.

“I'm already barely getting by,” Hunt said.

So far this bill to cut food stamps has passed through committees along party lines.

Democrats said they're opposed to any further cuts.

The bill does not have a companion bill in the Senate, which is necessary for it to pass.

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